WITH age comes great responsibility, and, of course, experience and wisdom. The older one gets, the less likely they are to be pawns in certain games; they prioritise deeper connections and mutual respect in relationships. They’re less likely to tolerate drama or invest time in superficial connections. Wisdom brings an understanding of compromise, communication and the importance of personal growth within relationships.

That said, we asked women, what have you realised about men as you’ve gotten older?

Kelly, 44, dental assistant:
They’re all the same, even the ones who start off good. They expect you to be wife material, and that you meet their needs, while bringing no matching energy to the table. And oh, it’s when they get old and need you to care for them that they’ll want to settle down — when they’re battling ED issues and all they have to show for their years on the streets is a big belly and a bag of baby mothers.

Siddonie, 45, teacher:
A lot of men, especially Jamaican men, don’t really like women. I’m sure we could do a whole study on it. They also hate their babymothers and don’t care for their kids beyond infancy. They don’t really want you as a woman, or like you, or love you and want to settle down. In fact they’ll resent you, and to use the golfing analogy, it’s all about sticks and holes and warm bodies and accommodation.

Keresha, 47, domestic engineer:
So many men weren’t raised properly, or ‘never grow good’, as Jamaicans say. Prepare to raise your man like you raise your kids, especially those with mommy or daddy issues — it will be an emotional rollercoaster. But you’ll soon realise that men are really not crucial to your happiness, and the minute you have that realisation, your life will be perfect.

Nicole, 38, attorney:
They lie. For the simplest things. The worst thing a woman can do in life, is to trust a man. They all lie. I’m convinced the snake in the garden was in fact Adam. They don’t all cheat, and there are good men around in this regard, but the lying to boost their egos and to get out of stuff reminds me of a five-year-old.